Fan



Dec. 1, 1964 R. L. HULL FAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 27. 1960 Tiqj INVENTOR RICHHRD L. HULL an a E ATTORNEYS Dec. 1, 1964 R. L. HULL 3,159,334

FAN

Original Filed June 27, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RICHARD L. H ULL ATTO R N EYS United States Patent 3,159,334 FAN Richmd L. Hull, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Arnetelr,

Inc, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of appiication Ser. No. 38,979, June 27, 1960. This appiication Mar. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 267,072 2 Ciairns. or. 230-114.)

The present invention relates to fan units and particularly to a new and improved split flow fan having adjustable damper means combined with it.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 38,979 filed June 27, 1960, and now abandoned.

In order to prevent the deterioration of a fan motor in a fan unit for moving destructive fumes or fluids, the housing for such units has been constructed in tubular form having a transverse opening therethrough that is defined by a wall that splits the flow of fluid as it passes axially through the housing. The fan motor is mounted in this transverse opening with its output shaft extending along the axial centerline of the housing and through the wall defining the transverse opening therethrough.

An object of this invention is to provide such a fan unit having a damper-like valve or vane means combined therewith for controlling the flow of fluids through the fan unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a fan unit in which pivotal damper, vane or valve means may be located within the unit without increasing its size.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a fan unit in which either one or both of the split paths of fluid flow therethrough may be controlled by a damper, vane or valve means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a fan unit having such damper, vane or valve means in which the axis of the pivot passes through the fan motor within the transverse passage so that space limitations can be satisfied.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fan with a valve means having improved performance as compared to a fan without such valve means.

In one aspect of the invention, a tubular housing having truncated conical ends may have diametrically disposed, elongated openings cut into the wall of said housing. Sheet metal may be connected internally of said openings, extending from one to the other and forming a wall defining a transverse passage through the housing, dividing the interior thereof to provide a split flow of fluid that may pass through said housing. This Wall may include flat parallel spaced wall portions joined at the ends by curvilinear portions, thereby forming split fluid passage means having a cross-sectional form of a segment of a circle. An electric motor may be mounted within the transverse passage and may be bolted or otherwise fastened to the Wall defining said transverse passage. The output shaft of the motor may extend upwardly through the wall defining the transverse pass-age and may have a fan fixed to it within one of the truncated end portions of the housing. Segmental vane or valve means may be located in one or both of the passages through the housing which define the split paths of fluid flow therethrough. The vane or valve means may be in the form of segments of a circle and may be located within the cylindrical portion of the housing between the truncated conical end portions, which is the location in the transverse passage in which the motor is located. Since the vane or valve means must be pivotally mounted, the pivot shaft obviously cannot extend through the housing and across the transverse passage because it would interfere with the motor within the latter.

In still another aspect of the invention, pivot means for the segmental vane or valve means may extend across 3,159,334 Patented Dec. 1., 1964 one or both of the split fluid passage means of segmental cross section having aligned bearings in the outer wall of the housing and one or both of the flat parallel spaced wall portions defining the transverse passage.

In still another aspect of the invention, each of these pivot means may be provided with crank means on the outside of the housing and each crank means may be capable of being locked in adjusted position.

In still another aspect of the invention, only one adjustable crank may be provided on the outside of said housing, and a linkage may be provided between a segmental vane or valve means in each of the fluid passages of segmental cross section. This linkage may include a pivot shaft extending across the transverse passage but displaced radially from the diameter of the housing on which diameter the fan rnotop is located.

In still another aspect OIf the invention, power operated means may be located Within the transverse passage but displaced radially from the fan motor therein. This power operated means may be a reversible electric motor, and a crank linkage may be connected between the motor shaft and one or both of the segmental vane or valve means. Limit switches may be provided for limiting the degree of rotation of the vane or valve means motor in order to adjustably control the flow of fluid through the split passageways.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view of a fan unit to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevational view of the unit disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of the unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified unit from that shown in FIG. 1, and to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional plan view of still another modified unit to which the principles of the invention have been applied; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a tfian unit including a housing 10 having a hollow cylindrical portion 11 and end portions 12 and 13 that may be in the form of hollow truncated cones. Flanges 14 and 15 may be provided at the extremities of each conical portion 12 and 13. Diametrically disposed openings may be cut in the housing 10, land in the embodiment disclosed they may have straight parallel spaced edges 16 and 17, joined at their ends by curvilinear edges 18 and 19. v A sheet metal wall 2% may be fixed to the edges 16, 17, 18 and 19. Wall 20 may extend between the diametrically disposed, cut-out portions, forming therewith an hermetical seal. This construction forms a transverse passage 21 diametrically through the housing 10 and divides the interior thereof into two fluid flow passages 22 and 23 between the inlet 24 and the outlet 25 of the housing 10. Referring to FIG. 1, the two passages 22 and 23 within the cylindrical portion 11 each have a cross section that is a segment of a circle.

An electric motor 26 may be permanently attached to one of the straight parallel spaced walls 16 and 17. It may be arranged so that the axis of the output shaft 27 thereof lies along the longitudinal axis ofthe housing 10. The shaft 27 may extend through a clearance hole in one of the curvilinear wall portions 18 and 19, and a fan 28 which may ride a wing not on he rm 1-;

ho sin 10.

, taneously' adjusted to control the flow of fluid may be fixed to its end, adjacent the'outlet of the housing 10. o r V 7 ,In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a damper- :like vane or valve means 29, having a segmental shape to fit within the passage 23, may be fixedto ashaft 3t) that extends across passage 23. The valve orvane means is seen to substantially. fill the passage 23. Shaft 31! may be journaled in alignedbea-ring's within the wall of hous ing liland the wall 20" fixed to the edges 17. The shaft mZayalso extend outwardly of the housing It) and may have fixed to it a crank arm 3 1. A plate 32 may be a ltached to the'outside of housing 10 and it may include an additional plate 33 having an :arcuate slot 34 Within element 35 that is mounted Fromthe foregoing it isevident that the damper-like sage 2-5 to control the flow of fluid-therethrough. The vane 29 is-orf such a length that when in'open position, its upper tip will be closely adjacent the fan blades 28 so as to direct air thereto. As shown, it is longer than I ,the axial lengthof the cylindrical portionll.

Referring toFIG. 5, another segmental vane or valve means 36 may be mounted Within the passage 22 of the It may be fixed to a shaft 37 that is axially aligned with shaft 3 0 and is journaled in bearings Within the wall of portion 11, and the Wall 20. Another shaft 38, parallel with shafts 3i! and 37 but displaced radially,

from the axis of shafts '34 and 37, may extend across the V transverse passage 21 and may be journaled in bearings mounted on the parallel Po ions of the wall 20. Crank.

arms 39 and 49 maybe fixed to each end of shaft 38, and the one ends of connecting links 41 and 42 may be pivotally connected to the ends of arms 39 and 40 op-- posite those connected to shaft 38. The opposite ends of links 41 and 42 may be pivotally connected to vane or valve means 29 and 36 by brackets 43 and.44,,respectively. ,With the shaft33 displaced radially from the the passages 22 and 23.

Referring to FIGS 6 and 7, a bracket 45 may extend across the transverse passage 21 and maybe fixed to the outlet portions attached to said cylindrical portion; a transverse passage extending through said cylindrical portion; a wall defining said transverse passage, and form- 1 ing longitudinally extending dual passages through said vane or valve means '29 may be adjustedwi thin the paswall 20 thereof by angle members 46 and 47. A combined reversing electric motor and reduction gear unit 48 may be mounted on bracket 45. It mayinclude an output shaft 49 extending from both ends thereof. The op,

' posite ends of shaft 49 may extend through the parallel portions of wall 20 into the passages 22 and 23 above the vane'or valve means 29 and 36. Crank arms 5t and 51 may be fixed to the opposite ends of shaft 49, and the ends of arms 50 and 51 opposite those connected to shaft cylindrical portion, said iwall having spaced flat parallel portions joined by curvilinear portions; motor means mounted on one of said flat parallel portions and having an output shaft extending through said wall and lying on the longitudinal axis of said housing; a fan connected to said shaft and adjacent said wall portion; vane means within at least: one of said plural passages through said housing, said vane means having'a straight edge extending in substantial parallelism to a flat portion of said well and an arcuateedge which in the closed position of said vane means is disposed adjacent the inner cylindrical surface of said one passage, said vane means having an area substantially the same as the cross sectional area of said passage andfthe straight edge portion being longer than said cylindrical Wall so as to be adjacent said fan when thevane meansis in openposition; pivot'means in said one passage, said pivot means being fixed to said vane means and journalled in bearings in said housing and Well, said pivot means extending in a direction transverse to said vane straight edge, said vane means being located 3 in said passage so that when said vane means is fully open it'will direct air to said fan; and means for rotating said 2. In a fan unit, a housing including a hollow cylin- 'drical portion and hollow truncated conical inlet and out,-

let portions attached to said cylindrical portion; a trans. f versepassage extending through said cylindrical portion;

a Wall defining said transverse passage, and forming longitudinally extending dual pas-sages through said cylindrical portion, said passages having a segmental cross section;

motor means mounted within said transverse passage and substantially midway along its longitudinal axis, and having an outputslraft extending through said wall into one of said truncated conical portions; a fan connected to said shaft near theextremity of one of said conical por- I tions; segmental vane means Within at least one of said segmental passagessaid vane means having a straight I I edge extending in substantial parallelism,-to a fiat portion:

of said wall and an arcuate edge which in the closed posi:

'tion of said vane means is dispose'dadjacent the inner cylindrical surface of said one passage, said vane means having an area substantially the same. as the cross sectional area of said passage and. the straight edgeportion being longer than said cylindrical Wall so as to be adjacent, said fan when the vane means is in open position;

pivot means in said one passage, said pivot means being fixed to said vane means and journalled in bearings in said housing and wall, said pivot means extending in a direction transverse to said vanestraightedge, said vane 'means being located said passage so that when said ,vane means is fully open it will direct air to said fan;

- and means for rotating said vane means.

49 may be pivotally connected to links 52 and 53. The 1 ends of links 52 and 53 opposite those connected to arms shown) may be included within the circuit of the motor 48 so as'to control the degree of movement of the vane or valve means by the motor 48. I

Although the various features of the improved fan unit have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose several embodiments of the invention, it will be evident that changes may'be'm'ade in such details and certain features maybe used without others Without departing from the principles of the invention. V

What is claimed is:

1. In a fan unit, a housing including a hollow cylin dricalportion and hollow truncated conical inlet and References ones in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,173,484 Clay Feb.' 29, 1916 1,389,797 Thompson Sept. 6, 1921 1,462,287 Kanak July 17, 1923 1,852,918 1 Chandler Aug. 5, 1932 "1,887,873 Hagen Nov. 15, 1932 1,928,839 Marsden Oct. 3, 1933 2,114,168 Auger Apr. 12, 2,324,236 Price July 13, 2,494,772 McElroy Ian. 17, 1950 2,653,754 McDonald Sept. 29, 1953 2,772,850 Eaton Dec. 4, 1956 2,896,246 Wildt July 28," 1959 2,898,030 Hull Aug. 4, 19,59

2,991,002 Quertier July 4, 1961 

1. IN A FAN UNIT, A HOUSING INCLUDING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND HOLLOW TRUNCATED CONICAL INLET AND OUTLET PORTIONS ATTACHED TO SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION; A TRANSVERSE PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION; A WALL DEFINING SAID TRANSVERSE PASSAGE, AND FORMING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING DUAL PASSAGE THROUGH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, SAID WALL HAVING SPACED FLAT PARALLEL PORTIONS JOINED BY CURVILINEAR PORTIONS; MORTOR MEANS MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID FLAT PARALLEL PORTIONS AND HAVING AN OUTPUT SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID WALL AND LYING ON THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HOUSING; A FAN CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT AND ADJACENT SAID WALL PORTION; VANE MEANS WITHIN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLURAL PASSAGES THROUGH SAID HOUSING, SAID VANE MEANS HAVING A STRAIGHT EDGE EXTENDING IN SUBSTANTIAL PARALLELISM TO A FLAT PORTION OF SAID WALL AND AN ARCUATE EDGE WHICH IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID VANE MEANS IS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE INNER CYLINDRICAL SUR- 